Force-feed seeding-machine



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J l L. RITER.

FORGE FEED SBEDING MACHINE.

Patented A pr. 7, 1885.

'1 l 1 l l l l l l II INVENTOI? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(Model) J. L. RITER.

FORGE FEED SEEDING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. '7, 1885.

g N E UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L.. RITER, OF BROWNSVILLE, INDIANA.

FORCE- FE ED SEEDlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,168, dated April7,1885.

Application filed November 7, 1884. (ModeL) To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN L. RITER, of Brownsville, in the county ofUnion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Force-Feed Seeding- Machines; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in force-feed seeding-machines,the object of the same being first to provide improved means forsecuring the'rose-washer within the seedcup. Afurther object is toprovide improved means for securing a rotating and non-sliding sleevewithin the seed-cup. Afurther object is to provide improved means forholding the feed-wheels and cut-oif gates in their proper relativepositions on the driving-shaft; and with these ends in View my inventionconsists in the parts and combinations of parts, as will be more fullyexplained,and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of theshaft, showing two ways of securing feed wheels and gates thereon. Fig.2 is a view in side elevation of the seed-cup with the feed-wheel andcut-off gates removed. Fig. 3 is a view in section of the same, showingthe manner of securing the rose-washer thereto. Fig. 4 is a transversevertical sectional view through the shaft and bar, showing the devicesfor holding a feedwheel and cut-off gate in proper relativeposition; andFig. 5 is a similar view showing a tube for performing precisely thesame function.

.cup and hold the rose-washer in place.

rose-washer can be made of malleable iron, and the fingers formedintegral therewith, or the fingers can be formed independently of thepasses.

ing B to the right of the dotted line as w of Fig. 2, is curved toconform to the circumference of the grooved portion of the wheel, whilethe portion of the opening B to the left of the dotted line is shaped toconform to the web E of the cut-off gates E. When the cut-off gates areremoved fromthe seed'cup, the opening B in the section B is sufficientlylarge to permit the sleeve D to be passed through the same; but when thegates are in position the opening is too small. The sleeve D is firstentered into the opening until the groove therein comes opposite theside wall ofthe section B, which permits the sleeve to be movedforwardly. After the sleeve is moved sidewise or forwardly, the web E,with its attached gates E, is next placed in position by passing itthrough the opening in the section B behind the sleeve D. This web thenprevents the sleeve from moving rearwardly, and consequently holds it inlocked position. By this arrangement of parts the sleeve is journaled inone side wall of the cup and is free to turn therein, but is heldsecurely against endwise movement. The feed-wheel F can be fluted orprovided with any shaped depressions or pockets for carrying the seed,and is provided with a central opening or bore sufficiently large to receive the sleeve D, which, as before stated, is journaled in one sidewall of the seed-cup. This feed-wheel is provided at one end with a hubhaving an opening or bore centrally through the same, through which theshaft G This shaft is preferably angular in cross-section, but can bemade round or of any other desired shape, and passes through the sleeveand imparts a rotary motion thereto. One end of the web of the cutoffgates is formed into or provided with a hub or collar, 0, through whichthe shaft passes and in which the shaft turns; but is so securedon theshaft, as will be hereinafter explained, as to be moved longitudinallysimultaneously with the shaft. This web and the cut-off gates restsnugly against the inner end of the feed-wheel, and move simultaneouslywith the feed-wheel, so as to wholly or partly cut off the feed as circumstances demand. A series of seed-cups are secured to the hopper inthe usual manner, and are operated by a common shaft, G, which isprovided with a pinion, H, at one end, through which motion is impartedthereto. This shaft is adapted to be moved longitudiually by ahand-lever or other suitable devlce.

In arranging or adjusting the parts I first place the sleeves within thecups, and then insert the cut-off gate, which, as before stated, locksthe sleeves in position. I then pass the shaft through thehub of thecut-off gates, sleeve, and feed-wheel, and move it longitudinally, ormove the seed-cup with its parts on the shaft until the seed-cup is inproper position. Between the hub of the cut-off gates of one of the endseed-cups and a stop (which can be the pinion rigidly secured to theshaft) I secure a bar, J, preferably flat, (if the shaft be angular,)which latter rests snugly on the shaft. One end of this bar enters anotch formed in a collar or box, I, rigidly secured on the shaft, andresting within the hub of the cut-off gates, while the other end entersa similar notch in the stop above referred to. The next cup, withitsattached parts, is then placed in position and secured at the properdistance apart by another bar, J, one end of which enters a notch in thehub of the feed-wheel of one cup, and a notch in the box on which thehub of the cut-off gate of the next adjacent box rests, and so on untilthe entire series are secured in place, the feed-wheel of the lastseed-cup being secured against endwise movement by a collar removablysecured to the shaft. These bars or rods simply hold the cut-off gatesand feed-wheel of the same cup together and prevent them from movinglongitudinally independently of the shaft. As the feed-wheels and theboxes inside of the hubs of the cut-off gates are secured to the shaftand are rotated thereby, there is no torsional strain on the bars orrods, and, as their sole function is to prevent an independentlongitudinal movement of the feed-wheel and cut-off gates, there isnothing to displace the rods.

If desired, I can, instead of employing the flat bars or rods, use tubesK, which latter encircle the shaft. These tubes are provided near oneend with a collar, d, adapted to bear against the outer face of the hubof the cutoff gates, while the extreme end of the said tube forms a boxor seat for said hub. The opposite end of said tube bears against theend of the adjacent feed -wheel, and so on throughout the entire series.The sleeve D is slightly smaller than the feed-wheel, but as it revolvessimultaneously with the feed-wheel it prevents the grain from bridgingand being crushed when the feed is partly cut off.

By the employment of the tubes or rods above described I obviate thenecessity of forming two pin-holes through the shaft for each seed-cup,and consequently produce a stronger shaft and secure the parts thereonagainst independent endwise movement at a reduced cost.

It is evident that numerous changes in the form and arrangement of theseveral parts described may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myself strictlyto the constructionherein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is; e, l

1. The combination, with a seed-cup and a feed-wheel, of a rose-washerresting against one face of the seed-cup and provided with bentfingerswhich overlap or rest againstthe opposite side of said face,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a seed-cup having a depressed seat in one facethereof and a feed-wheel, of a rose-washer resting in said depressedseat and provided with bent fingers, which latter overlap or restagainst the opposite side of said face and hold the washer in position.

3. The combination, with a seed-cup and a feed-wheel, of a rose-washerresting against one face of said cup, and the bent fingers rigidlysecured to said washer and holding it in position, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination, with a seed-cup having an opening in one side wallthereof, and a sleeve having agroove therein, of a cut-off gate or gatesfor locking the sleeve against endwise'movement within said opening.

5. The combination, with a seed-cup having an opening in one side wall,and a rotating and non-sliding sleeve having a grooved end, of thecut-off gate and the web for looking the sleeve against displacement,substan' tially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a seed-cup, the rotating and longitudinalmovable feed-wheel, and the sleeve, of the cut-off gates and web forlocking the sleeve against endwise movement.

7. The combination, with a series of seedcups, feed-wheels, and cutoffgates, of a shaft and a support or distance-piece located between thefeed-wheel of one seed-cup and the cut-off gate or gates of the nextadjacent cup, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with a series of seedcups, feed-wheels, and cut-offgates, of a rotating and longitudinally-sliding shaft and supports ordistance-pieces located between the cut-off gate or gates of oneseed-cup and the feed-wheel of the next adjacent cup.

9. The combination, with a series of seedcups, feed-wheels, and cut-offgates, of ashaft and distance-pieces or supports located on the shaft,the opposite ends of each of said pieces resting, respectively, againstthe hub of a feedwheel and the hub or collar of the next adjacentcut-off gate.

10. The combination, with a series of seeding Witnesses.

cups, feed-Wheels, and cut-0E gates, of the 5 angular rotating andsliding shaft and the rods or bars resting on said shaft and bearingagainst the adjacent ends of the feed-wheels and cut-off gates,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib- 10 JOHN L. RITER.

Witnesses:

WM. J. HENLEY, A. L. RIGGs.

